[Background]

- Autonomous vehicles are a key driver of national economic growth, and the government is promoting related system development and technological support. Currently, level 3 autonomous vehicles can be manufactured and sold with a complete regulatory framework, including vehicle safety standards. However, the establishment of international safety standards for level 4 autonomous vehicles has been delayed, causing difficulties for related companies in creating profit models through the production and sale of level 4 autonomous vehicles.
- To support profit model creation for autonomous vehicle companies and the development of the autonomous driving industry, a performance certification system has been established to allow autonomous vehicles, even without international safety standards, to be traded and operated through separate performance and safety checks and certifications (announced on March 19, 2024, and to be implemented on March 20, 2025). This requires the development of detailed regulations for the implementation of performance certification and conformity approval standards for autonomous vehicles.
- In this regard, Article 40 of the amended law stipulates that the standards, targets, methods, and other necessary matters for the performance certification and modification certification of autonomous vehicles shall be determined by presidential decree. Therefore, regulations are needed to define the application requirements to be met when applying for performance certification, the structural and equipment standards that the vehicle must meet, and the conditions under which a modification certification is required when changing the structure and functionality of a certified autonomous vehicle.

[Regulation Details]
- Regulations specifying the application requirements to be met by automobile manufacturers when applying for performance certification of autonomous vehicles, the structural, equipment, and performance standards the vehicle must meet, and the conditions for modification certification when changing the structure and functions of a certified autonomous vehicle.